Cartagena safety tips anyone?

Sam Salmon says on May 3, 2004, 20:53:

I heard you have to watch out I heard you have to watch out for the police in Cartagena, especially watch your passport because US passport sells for 10K and you can get robbed or even killed because it's a lot of money.

What you 'heard' is garbage of the most odious variety.

Go and enjoy yourself, Cartagena is a wonderful place to visit.



' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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MigueElCosteno says on May 3, 2004, 22:20:

False Info!!! What you heard was indeed garbage..
i think cartagena is the safest in all of colombia..
i will also be there from jun 19- jul 19 and two of my gringo friends are coming with me... just go out there and have fun, but i advise you something, don't start any trouble!

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TioCharlie says on May 4, 2004, 02:00:

Don't Panic... I had a good time!! Cartagena I thought overall was a very safe city to be around. I met several 'gringos' too... a couple of people from Miami and several Germans on vacation....
I did have an amusing incident involving the police checkpoint as we (me and my wife} in a taxi as we were traveling back one evening from a day trip to Santa Marta. As usual we were stopped breifly for and I swear that when he saw a gringo in the taxi his eyes turned into $$ and we we led over to the Guard shack for a "identification check" ... showed him my passport and all was in order. I also had a Spanish/Engish dictionary .... so the police felt that he had to check out something further and then pulled out a very big 3 ring binder and began to thumb through several pages. After about 5 minutes he closed the book and stated that I ws required to pay a "city book license". I know it was something he made up but I gave him $15 dollars (US) and he then let us go on our way. I recomend that you prepare for one of those kinds of encounters. All in all it really no differnt than I've encountered in trips to Mexico and Panama, as well as Colombia. "greasing the palm" of the local law enforcement.

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FredGarvin says on May 4, 2004, 07:53:

Prior to each trip to Cartagena,

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FredGarvin says on May 4, 2004, 07:55:

Prior to each trip to Cartagena,

1. I make copies of all documentation (passport, airline tickets, hotel accomodations, etc...)

2. I normally leave all original documents at the safe in the hotel (yes, there is the possiblity of theft there too).

3. I only carry the copies of my documents while out in the city. If anyone needs to see the originals (ie the policia), then we can all go back to the hotel to get them.

Just some very basic precautions, and while not completely safe, at least it's an attempt to secure my belongings. I have always felt very secure in Cartagena, and actually do not mind seeing such a large militar presence. I do tend to stay close to familiar places and people, and also have friends there.

Enjoy this amazing city!

fg

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john says on May 4, 2004, 10:15:

Very low chances of that Happening! But, just in case - you need to make a photocopy of your passport and have that copy notarized. Youll be ok; Relax!!


John

John

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